The Lakers’ six-game first-round series with Oklahoma City would’ve been much easier for them if Lamar Odom had done better in his head-to-head matchups with Thunder rookie Serge Ibaka. Instead, Ibaka’s tremendous athletic ability and strength overwhelmed Odom, who was in one of his less-focused funks.

Odom shot 41.7 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from the foul line in the series, and Andrew Bynum played more minutes than Odom (30 minutes per game to 26) despite getting hurt in the last game.

Ibaka mentioned how happy Oklahoma City’s coaches were with his play against Odom in an interview with Hoopsnotes. Ibaka did have high praise for Pau Gasol, saying flat-out: “Pau Gasol is the most talented big man for me.”

But Ibaka only fed the feeling by many in the NBA community that the Thunder will become a greater threat to the Lakers. (Personally, I see Dallas as that.) Said Ibaka: “What is certain is that we don’t fear anyone.”

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